O Gauge Thornycroft Van.

I picked this Corgi 1/43 model from an exhibition for a pound- will do just right for the O Gauge layout (still un-named) I thought.

First job was to dismantle and rub down before applying undercoat .

Not wanting to spend any extra I had a look through the transfers that I had. The only ones large enough were these Royal Mail ones from a HMRS sheet for GW coaches.

These will do I thought but no Royal Mail red spray can was in stock so a maroon coat with black roof and chassis cab was applied.

So- a nice cheap addition for the O Gauge layout with no name!

009 Heljan Lynton and Barnstable Locos.

 These two, both named Taw have been trundling up and down the test track for some time with no problem- I must be lucky !

Thing is that they both have the same name.

The last time I bumped into 248 Developments I bought various nameplates. Two were Wizard and Witch.

This is the new identities of these two, I just have to get a pair of Manning Wardel makers plates from Narrow Planet to complete

 By the way, the latest release by Heljan is above- recognised by the red smokebox lamp whilst the original release, on theleft has a black smokebox lamp.

Below are the pair side by side for comparison.

Rail Zip for all scales.

I happened to pick up some Rail Zip from Model Railway Solutions reently. More out of curiosity really.

Woody Lane is being readied for the Compton Dundon exhibition this coming Saturday. So I thought I would try cleaning the rails with Rail Zip rather than the usual track rubber.

What to use to apply? I tried some foam rubber that was packing from stock storage boxes- bits everywhere!

So I looked for something else and came across the Proses Easy Clean applicator shown.
Whilst it does the job it does pick off and end up like a piece of rubberised horsehair which means that it catches on rail joins and turnouts- so the jury is out. I will see how the Rail Zip and applicator perform on Saturday.

3mm Scale 94XX Tank.

I have had another 94XX body for some time plus an etched footplate and chassis.

So I thought , with Westfest looming in September I had better get something new to run as, for the life of me, I cannot find the BR(Southern) Q1 0-6-0 that I have been building.

So, etched footplate first. Firstly the whole etch was cleaned with a fibreglass brush and the relevant pieces removed from the carrier. The result is shown on the right.

 The whitemetal body has been stripped of the old paint and handrail mouldings removed ready to be replaced with wire handrails.

I used the Expo paint stripper as Modelstrip no longer seems to be available. The Expo product is applied for about an hour then scraped off, reapplying where necessary- I also scrubbed with a toothbrush then cleaned with Shiny Sinks.

  The roof moulding, which includes the coal bunker load moulding, has been loosely fitted  with the original glue removed and the fit improved.

Below, the body has been placed on the footplate to check fitment which appears ok.

Next to make the chassis from a Brynkits kit which comes with axle bushes and brake hanger wire.

I am goingto use 3mm Society square axles on this one so more anon!

Dorset Modellers Meeting. 23rd February 2019.

The next meeting of our intrepid band , at The Pullman Coach, The Avon Causeway Hotel, Hurn, Christchurch, BH23 6AS, is this Saturday from about 1pm- there is a small charge which can be offset with purchase of chips or beverages- you don't get something for nothing these days!

Various scales will be there- I am taking Quarry Sidings to show how not a lot of room is needed for a Model Railway.

There will also be other scales and modelling!

009 GVT Loco fleet.

Sorry about the dark photo but was taken in a rush. This shows the whole GVT fleet including the 4-6-0 Baldwin which is a ready to run Bachmann offering whereas the Beyer Peacocks are all PECO kits.  These all have Graham Farish (Poole) chassis which have all had the brushes squared off which has improved running no end.

The Baldwin needs to have the number removed and detailed as a GVT loco.

009 GVT Beyer Peacock- GLYN.

 Third addition to the GVT fleet is the finished GLYN.

Finished in plain black with etched plates which came with the body as purchased.

A coat of matt varnish and all done.

The top photo has distorted the chimney which is a random brass turning- it is square however as per the lower photo.

Signage for Woody Lane.

I extolled the virtues of the wooden alphabets which were available from The Works.

However, it was a frustration that numerals were not available to the same size.

Fear not intrepid readers- The Range supplies numerals which are slightly larger but as these were to be used on Hillbrow and Woody Lane the difference in size is not relevant.

There is now no doubt as to the scale of the layout-Hillbrow next!

Another 009 Tram Loco.

 Not another GVT engine?  Yes but this one is different!

The body was purchased from the 009 Sales and has been modified as the closed cab version GLYN.

The paintwork was in need of refinishing so the body has been stripped and is seen here in undercoat. The finish will be black to blend with the other locos and nowthere is enough stock to replicate the GVT at an imaginary location.

This is due to the fact that smaller layouts are more manageable and with age increasing this will hopefully extend my exhibiting possibilities.

So, time to let the undercoat fully dry before a coat of satin black is applied.

The nameplates and makers plates were attached to GLYN so will be re-used.

The chimney, missing when bought, is a brass turning which, although not 100% right was obtained for 50p.

3mm auto couplings modifiction.

For sometime I have been considering updating the couplings on my 3mm stock.

Problems have occured with the uncoupling wire shorting on loco chassis. This aspect of the operation I wanted to remove.

So, this is the solution I have come up with, not dissimilar to that which is used on Hillbrow, Woody Lane and Woodlands.

The dropper has been turned through 90 degrees and a steel pin soldered through the hole in the dropper.

This will be activated by rare earth magnets under the baseboard. At present I have fitted the modified couplings to stock which has Fencehouses etched nickel silver chassis but will turn attention to locos and other stock soon as Teignford is booked to appear at Westfest at Verwood in September.

300th Post- Woody Lane update.

Yes indeed, this is the 300th post on Dorset Railway Modelling.

Many more are on the now inaccessible Dorset 3mm Modelling blog.

So- a couple of new buildings for the Station approach, one is a resin offering, the other is the Severn Models etched brass workshop.

This was soldered together and dry brushed brick colour over a white matt undercoat.

Below, for something different is a bus under a bridge. In this case a Shamrock and Rambler Bedford OB coach.

Alton Febex 2019.

 Nigel showed his 3mm layout North Ealing . This was originally made for the 3mm Society 50 something challenge to mark the society's 50th Anniversary.

There was a fair amount of snow on the drive to Alton but all roads were passable using common sense!

However, the van handbrake got frozen on overnight and we just made it to the exhibition with two minutes to spare before opening!

 Braving the elements and attending on Sunday was the 009 Glynn Valley Tramway layout by the REC Farnborough.

I had not seen this layout previously and what a lovely job has been made.

I had also never previously seen the Fourdees GVT engine. The body is a super 3D print and beautifully finished but being powered by a KATO chassis my personal opinion is that it is too expensive.

009 Woody Lane- an update.

The building from Severn Models has been joined by a small stone building from the Bachmann range.

These will form a small feature behind the Station area.

Just have to paint and detail these before Woody Lanes' debut at Compton Dundon in March.

Peco 0 Gauge 16ton Great Western Brake Van.

 Looking at the available GW Brake Vans, I wanted the smallest example for the 0 Gauge layout as yet un-named.

I considered the Parkside 20Tonner before deciding on the Peco 16 Ton offering.

Although slightly more expensive than the Parkside 20 Tonner I felt that this one would be more in keeping with a 5ft long layout!

Well, below is how far I have gotten with this kit - a disaster occured after priming, more of which anon.

Wessex Wagons 00 Lymington Salt Works Wagon.

Number 352 in Wessex Wagons releases is illustrated to the right.

Based  on historic documents this my first salt wagon, indeed it is my first wagon of this type.

Number 83 of 125 t
his is a well detailed and printed example of Wessex Wagons adherence
to fidelity- albeit tailored from documental evidence.

Excellent offering Bruce!

The Mosquito has landed.

I wanted an alternative to the Hawk for RAF Misarah. So the Mosquito has been finished ready for deployment. OK- I know the markings are somewhat speculative but its my etc. etc.

It just about fits the apron on Misarah so I need to remove the Hawk and then conjure up a way to transport both without damage.